Gear rolling equipment

ABSTRACT

GEAR ROLLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ROLLING DIES. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR DRIVING BOTH OF SAID DIES POSITIVELY IN TIMED ROTATION WHILE PROVIDING FOR TIMING ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN THE DIES. ONE OF THE DIES IS VERTICALLY MOVABLE TOWARD THE OTHER TO APPLY ROLLING PRESSURE. AN ARBOR SUPPORTS A WORK BLANK INTERMEDIATE THE DIES, AND MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR MOVING THE WORK ARBOR TOWARD THE STATIONARY DIE ONE-HALF THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT ON THE MOVABLE DIE.

Jan. 5, BERG| ETAL 3,552,167 v GEAR ROLLING EQUIPMENT I Filed-Sept. 26;1968 3 SheetsShet 1 FIG.|

INVENTORS BENJAMIN. F. BREGI ARYHUR B. BASSOFF RUSSELL w. ANTHONY ATTOEY Jan. 5, 1971 BERG] EI'AL GEAR ROLLING EQUIPMENT 1 Filed Sept. 26,1968 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-2 INVENTORS S Y .M I M Y T w 60% A E R$M AA Fz 4 B 4 M! Ru muE N" (x RU ES M BY j Jan.5,1 971 B.TF.BERGI mu.3,552,167

- GEAR ROLLING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 26, 1968- v s Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTORS EENJ N F. BREGI IRTH BASSOFF FU SELL NTHONY f A United StatesPatent GEAR ROLLING EQUIPMENT Benjamin F. Bregi, Grosse Pointe Shores,Arthur B. Bassotf, Oak Park, and Russell W. Anthony, Harper Woods,Mich., assignors to Lear Siegler, Inc., Santa Monica,

Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 762,898

Int. Cl. B2lh 5/02 US. C]. 72-94 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREGear rolling apparatus comprising a pair of rolling dies. Means areprovided for driving both of said dies positively in timed rotationwhile providing for timing adjustment between the dies. One of the diesis vertically movable toward the other to apply rolling pressure. Anarbor supports a work blank intermediate the dies, and means areprovided for moving the work arbor toward the stationary die one-halfthe amount of movement of the movable die.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gear rolling equipment may be usedfor performing a finish rolling operation on previously cut or otherwiseformed gears. However, it may also be employed to produce gears fromcircular blanks. In either case, a pair of gear-like rolling dies areprovided which are movable towards each other to apply rolling pressureto a work piece positioned between the dies. Both dies are positivelydriven in rotation at identical speeds and means are provided foradvancing or retarding one die with reference to the other duringrolling movement thereof.

The work support structure includes an automatic loading device and theentire work support structure including the loading device is movable toposition a rotatable work arbor midway between the axes of the rollingdies.

Nonpositive drive means are provided for the work arbor and this meansdrives the work arbor at a speed somewhat different and preferablyslightly greater than the speed at which it will be driven by the meshedengagement between the rolling dies and the work piece. This insuresthat the teeth on the rolling dies will engage in tooth spaces on thework piece after which rotation of the work is of course determinedsolely by the rotation of the dies.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to providesimplified gear rolling equipment permitting a timing adjustment betweenthe dies of an opposed pair during rotation thereof, and providingautomatically for correct positioning of the work arbor midway betweenthe axes of the rolling dies as the center distance between the rollingdies diminishes.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying draw- Ings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION The machinecompromises a frame 10 having adjacent the bottom thereof a drive motor12 connected through a belt 14 to drive gearing connected to the rollingdies as will presently be described.

Adjacent the top of the frame 10 is an upper die support 16 including abracket 18 having a curved undersurface 20 adapted to receive a bracket22 for angular adjustment about a horizontal axis located at the centerof curvature of the guide surface 20. As will be a parent upon furtherdescription, this provides for angular adjustment of the upper die rollabout a horizontal axis. The bracket 22 may be moved to adjustedposition and clamped by suitable means such for example as the bolt 24.

Means are also provided for effecting a swivelling adjustment of theupper die roll about a vertical axis and this means comprises a post 26on the upper spindle support 28. The post 26 is provided with teeth inthe zone 30 engaged by worm teeth on an adjusting device 32, rotation ofwhich will effect angular adjustment of the spindle support 28. Suitablemeans are provided for clamping the spindle support 28 to the member 22in adjusted position.

Equivalent structure is provided on a vertically movable ram 34 foreffecting the necessary adjustment of the lower spindle support 36. Theupper stationary die roll support includes a drive shaft 37 forsupporting and driving the upper die roll 38. Similarly, the lowervertically movable die roll support includes a drive shaft 39 forsupporting and driving the lower die roll 40.

The upper die roll 38, once its position has been adjusted as previouslydescribed, remains stationary except for rotation imparted thereto, aswill subsequently be described. However, the lower die roll 40 isvertically movable upon upward movement of the ram 34, this movementbeing imparted by a piston and cylinder construction 42 adapted to applyrelatively massive pressure to a work piece W interposed between the dierolls 38 and 40.

Means are provided for driving the die rolls 38 and 40 in rotation andthese means comprise an intermediate gear 44 in mesh with gears 46 and48 which are connected respectively through universal drive connections50 and 52 to the spindles supporting the die rolls 38 and 40.

Special means indicated generally at 54 and shown in enlarged view FIG.3, are provided for effecting a timing adjustment between the die rolls38 and 40, For this purpose the upper drive gear 46 has a centralopening therethrough and includes a spline section at 56. Receivedwithin the opening '58 in the gear 46 is a timing sleeve 60 supportedfor rotation in bearings 62, the sleeve having an external spline at 56coacting with the internal spline in the gear '46. The sleeve 60 isprovided at 64 with an internal spline coacting with an external splineformed on a drive shaft 66. It will be understood that the splines at 56and 64 are of different angles. For example, one set of cooperatingsplines may be spur type or parallel to the axis of the sleeve 60, inwhich case the other pair of interconnecting splines are helical.Alternatively, both sets of splines may be helical and differ only inhelix angle.

1 The sleeve 60 is axially adjustable by virtue of its connection to anadjusting sleeve '68 which is externally threaded as indicated at 70 forcoaction with threads provided at the interior of a stationary supportmember 72. The adjusting sleeve 68 is connected as by a pin 74 to anadjusting knob 76.

It will be apparent that angular adjustment may be effected between thegear 46 and the shaft 66 during rotation of these parts by adjustment ofthe knob 76 which remains stationary during rotation of the gear andshaft.

Rotation of the knob 76 effects longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve 60and the timing adjustment is provided by virtue of the different helicaldisposition of the splines.

The work support structure includes means for effecting automaticloading and includes also non-positive drive means for rotating the workpiece at a speed somewhat different than the speed at which the workpiece will be driven by its engagement with the die rolls 38 and 40.This entire work supporting structure including the automatic loadingmechanism is vertically movable and its vertical movement is related tothe vertical movement of the ram 34. For this purpose the entire supportstructure illustrated generally at 80 is connected by means of a post 82to an actuating arm 84 pivoted as indicated at 86 to a post '88 forminga part of the frame 10. The arm 84 is slotted as indicated at 90 and 92.The post 82 carries a pin 94 which enters the slot 92 and effectsvertical movement of the work supporting structure as the arm 84 isrocked, The arm 84 is rocked by means of a pin 96 carried by the ram 34and movable in the slot 90 provided adjacent the movable end of the arm84. Since the spacing of the pin 96 from the pivot mounting 86 is twicethat of the pin 94, it will be apparent that as the lower guide roll 40is moved vertically by a given distance, the work supporting structureincluding the work piece W is moved vertically an amount equal toexactly half the amount of vertical movement of the movable die roll 40.

Referring now to FIG. 4 the entire work supporting structure isindicated as carried by a plate 100 which it will be understood is inturn connected to the post 82. The automatic loading structure includesan inclined chute 102 having a closed end wall 104 which arrestsdownward movement of the lowermost gear of a series of work pieces orcylindrical blanks. Carried by the chute 102 is a piston and cylinderunit 106 which is operable to push a work gear laterally from the chute102 into a slide 108 connected to the piston of a second piston andcylinder unit 110. The slide 108 is generally C-shaped and is adapted toreceive a work gear and position it accurately between the die rolls 38and 40 but to permit retraction of the slide 108 by virtue of passage ofthe work supporting arbor after the work gear has been engaged thereby.The arbor 112 is adapted to be projected by a third piston and cylinderunit 114 through the opening in the work piece after the work piece hasbeen properly positioned between the rolling dies. This arbor extendsthrough the work piece and into a nonpositive drive unit 116. Movementof the arbor 112 carries the gear laterally out of the generallyC-shaped slide 108 so that the reduced arbor 112 permits retraction ofthe slide 108.

After a rolling operation has been completed the piston and cylinderunit 114 retracts the arbor'112, first moving the work gear W intoalignment with a discharge chute 118 at which time it is stripped fromthe retracting arbor and remains in position until the next forwardmovement of the slide 108, which pushes the finished gear into the chute118.

It is contemplated that the entire operation will be fully automatic andfor this purpose the vertical ram 34 carries siutable switch actuatorsindicated generally at 12 which operate switches 122 to provideautomatic sequencing of the operation. I

Means are provided including an adjusting screw mechanism indicatedgenerally at 124 intermediate the vertically movable piston of thepiston and cylinder power unit 42, for effecting initial adjustment ofthe lower guide roll 40 in accordance with the size of the work gear W.The screw mechanism includes a worm and worm gear adjusting unit 126.

Instead of the lever or pivoted arm 84 transmitting motion from the ram34 to the work support, the structure illustrated in FIG. may beemployed. In this figure there is indicated at 130 a tubular connectiondepending from the work support which carries the work spindle 112. Asseen in this figure the connection 130 is tubular and includes aradially inwardly extending flange 132.

Carried by the frame 10 is a stationary rack 134. Carried by and movablevertically with the ram 34 is an actuating rack 136. Extendingvertically within the tubular connection is a post 138 having a pinion140 at its lower end to mesh with the racks 134 and 136. Since the rack134 is stationary it will be apparent that vertical movementof thepinion 1'40, and hence of the post 138, is exactly equal to one-half theupward movement of the ram 34 and pinion 140. Thus, as the lower rolldie 40 moves upwardly, the mechanism just described moves the work gearW upwardly by an amount equal to half the upward movement of the die 40.Inasmuch as the vertical position of the work piece is to be determinedsolely by the engagement with the dies 38 and 40, it is essential thatlimited vertical float be provided between the post 138 and the worksupport. This is accomplished in the present instance by providing forsuch float between the post 13 8 and the tubular connection 130. Forthis purpose the post 138 is provided with a radial flange 142 which mayhave a vertical dimension equal to the thickness of the flange 132.Fixed to the post 138 are spring abutment collars 144 and 146, thesecollars being provided at opposite sides of the intermediate flange 142.Slidable on the post 138 are annular spring abutment collars 148 and150. A compression spring 152 is provided intermediate the collars 144and 148 and a second compression spring 154 is provided intermediate thecollars 146 and 150. Accordingly, assuming the post 138 to be fixed atany instance, vertical movement of the tubular connection 130 isprovided, such movement taking place against a force opposing suchmovement by the spring 152 or 154, depending upon the directon ofmovement.

A floating connection of this type may be, and preferably is, providedin the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. Gear rolling apparatus comprising a frame, a stationary die rollsupport on said frame, a movable die roll support on said frame, meanson said frame mounting said movable die roll support for movement towardand away from said stationary support, actuating means connected to saidmovable die roll support, die roll shafts rotatable on each of saidsupports, positive drive means for rotating both of said shafts in thesame direction in synchronism, a work support including a work arborsupport intermediate said die roll shafts, and means connectingsaid'work support and movable die roll support for simultaneous movementin'which said work support moves one-half the distance moved by saidmovable die roll support.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, the means conmeeting said movabledie roll support and said work support comprising an arm pivoted to saidframe, and connections between said arm and said movable die rollsupport and-said work support at distances from the pivot mounting ofsaid arm having the ratio of 2: 1.

3. Gear rolling apparatus comprising a frame, a stationary die rollsupport on said frame, a movable die roll support on said frame, meanson said frame mounting said movable die roll support for movement towardand away from said stationary support, actuating means connected to saidmovable die roll support, die roll shafts rotatable on each of saidsupports, positive drive means for rotating both of said shafts insynchronism, and means for adjusting both die roll shafts independentlyabout an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axes thereof.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, .comprising means for adjusting bothdie roll shafts independently about axes perpendicular to a lineintersecting and perpendicular to the axes of said shafts.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, said die roll supports having shaftsextending horizontally and vertically spaced, and in which theindependent adjustment means for said shafts provides independentangular adjustment thereof about a -vertical axis intersecting saidshafts midway between the sides of roll dies carried thereby;

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 comprising further independentadjustment means for said shafts to provide independent angularadjustment thereof about horizontal axes perpendicular to the axes ofsaid shafts.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising timing means for adjustingthe timed relationship of said shafts while they are rotating.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said positive drive means comprisinga pair of gears, one on each of said shafts, a single drive gear in meshwith both of the gears of said pair, and means intermediate one of thegears of said pair of gears and the die connected thereto foradjustingthe timed relation between said one gear and die for adjustingthe timed relation between the dies.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 comprising universal drive jointsintermediate the gears of said pair and the shafts driven thereby.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means connecting thework support and movable die roll includes yieldable means permittinglimited displacement of said work support arbor.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 comprising resilient meansproviding substantial opposition to displacement of said work supportarbor in either direction from an intermediate position.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means connecting thework support and movable die roll support comprises a first rack movablewith the movable die roll support, a second rack parallel to the firstrack and fixed to the frame, a pinion in mesh simultaneously with bothracks, and a lift connection between said pinion and said work support.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said lift connectionprovides for limited floating movement of the work support between saidwork support and said pinion, said life connection comprising a postconnected to said pinion and having a flange intermediate its ends, atubular member connected to said work support and surrounding said post,said tubular member having a radially inwardly extending flange normallyin combination with the flange on said post, fixed spring abutments onsaid post at opposite sides of said flanges and movable spring abutmentsslidable on said post at opposite sides of said flanges and engageablein intermediate position with both of said flanges, and compressionsprings interposed between the pair of spring abutments at each of saidflanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 594,482 11/1897 Medart 72-1022,087,831 7/1937 Anderson 72-195 2,342,817 2/1944 Plagemann et al 72-104 2,627,767 2/ 1953 Batchelder 72101 3,362,059 1/1968 Di Ponio et al29-1592 LOWELL A. LARSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.552'167 Dated January 5: 97

Inventofla) Benjamin F. Bregi 61? a1 It is certified that error appearsin the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

On each of the three sheets of drawings, the inventors should be B. F.BREGI et a1, instead of B. F. BERGI at Signed and sealed this 23rd dayof March 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SGHUYLER, JR. Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

